Circular-knitting machine



":Nov. 18, 1930. T. s. GRIEVE CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Shee t1 Filed Nov'. 19, 1926 Nov. 18, 1930. T. s. GRIEVE 1,782,298

CIRCULAR .KN IT'1ING MACHINE Fiied Nov. 19, 1926 I 14 Sheets-Sheet 2Nov. 18, 1930;

T. S. GRIEVE CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 19, 1926 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented 18, 1930- UNITED AT S PATENT F I- I THOMASsco'rr enrnvn, or LE CESTER, ENGLAND l l i CIRCULAR-KNITTING, aracnmn II Application filed November 19, 1926, Serial No. 149,393fand in GreatBritain l q'ovember 21, 1.925

This invention relates to circular knitting and the needles in theacting group carries machines and concerns those ofthe type havthe yarnbeyondtheoutermost needles'in'the 'ing co-axial opposed 'needlecylinders vizfa said groupso "that alternately on opplositej ribcylinderandfaiplain cylinder, and is ap: sidesof said group the yarn ismomentarily 6 plicable to both stationary and'revolving laid across thefront of anumber'ofthe'idle 55- 'cylindenmachines of this'type and whichneedles. This yarn since these needles are operate also ywitlranoscillating motion' such not in operation is not knitted and upon reforexample, as forthepurpose of making vel'sal of the motion is drawn: backthrough heels and toes in theprodu'ction ofseamless the feeder by thetake up device-f the ma-1 hosiery. v e u I chine. It is this yarnwhichis laid across the :60

- e 1 its is well. known, in machinesof this type idle needles'which isherein referred to as the the needle cylindersa're usually superposed,slack yarn or thread and it is of importance: the top'oneacting as t'heribcylinder and the that the projecting means or elementsprobottom oneas the plain cylinden; vided for holding down the fabric" should not Theobject'of'the invention is to provide offer obstruction likely to Icatch orto be 65 forsuch machines improved means'to fac'ili caught bysuch slack yarn. r v I tate levelling" up and knocking over of the 0Where the rib needles have operated inconrib loops as will behereinafter described. junct1on with a grooved ring or'some similar Inorder to enable what is known as broad device in the top needle cylinderit-has'generi rib. fabric to beknitted on-machines of'the 'allybeen'found necessary to limit theprotype concerned or to enable knitting totake jection ofthe intervening walls or to round place upon two or moreadjacent rib needles or level off: the lower corner of suchwallsforwithout the co-operation of the opposing the P PQE of Preventingtheislack'thread plain orframeneedles, means have beenprorom' catching.thereindfl ng proc ting videdto facilitate the action of the rib needlestti g; wi h h result ha o ing t the in drawing their 7 loops" andprevent" the insufiicient projectionthere has been a tendknitted webfrom being drawn upwards; For eneyfer the W 0 Webto p pw rdsinstance,-a1ring,' the periphery ofwhichhas the outer edgeduring'thenp-draw motion been'formed with vertical andradial grooves 0fi l e 30 h b e u d i th top li d vol-ragain Toovercome the diflicultythepresent inth vt p yli d h s b p vided ith 9 vention provides in therib'needle cylinder ti jfll ov ble i k o' 'k ki e bit of machines of thekind referr'edto adevice V V 'Now to be efiie'ctivelfor the'intended'purthe essential feature of -which'is that its pose the means adoptedshould project out periphery, while being formed to provide 3 sufiicientto prevent the yarn or w'ebfrom which are of adequate extenttophold downslippingup ()yer the outer end of such means, the yarn 01" web, iscollapsible OI contractile For example, ifthe ribneedles areiworking inorder to provide clearance when necesin'vertical grooves in theperipheral edgeo'f sary and clearthe slack thread during're- 40 a ringor disc then the walls of such grooves eiproceting k w.

' should, if possible, project outwards between The operative portion ofthe periphery is the needles to such an extent as to constituteconstituted by sinkers, blades, bits or like ledges which will hold theyarn or web down elements disposed radially between 'the rib When'therib needles rise." When a circular needles and capableof radialmovement. knitting machine is operating with a to and The importantfeature is that the sinkers, 95 fro or oscillating movement, forinstance, bits or the like are radially movable wherewhen makingseamless toe and heel pouches, by they may occupy either a projected orexknitting action continues on some of the tended position forfus'e or awithdrawn or needles While the others remain idle. In such contractedposition, and the I in and out v wardsibetween'the rib needles to anextent between the rib needles radial projections action the relativetraverse between the feeder, moveme'ntthereof may be imparted byanyconvenient means. The circular series of sinkers or like elements may becontracted and'expanded in part or as a whole. For instance, the seriesmay be expanded in the region of the rib stitch cam only. That is tosay, those sinkers located near the rib stitch cam may be moved out ofthe projected position while the others remain in the conbodimentthermodification.

tracted position.

In further describing the invention reference will be made to theaccompanying drawings wherein, V

Figure l is a sectional elevation of a convenientembodiment of theinvention, as applied to a machinewherein the needle cylinders rotateand reciprocate within stationary cam boxes. 1

-Figure 2 shows a sinker usedfin such em- Fig'ure 3 show s a modifiedform of sinker. Figure 4 is'a plan of part of the mecha nismshown inFigure 1.

I' provide in the lower end of the top needle cylinder 1 a series ofradial sinkers 2 of arcuateform whichsinkers work in correspondingcurved grooves 3 in a ring 4 fitted in'the'lower end ofisaid cylinder.Each sinker has a butt orprojection 5 for engagement with a groove cam6, the upper part of which is attached to aycentral sleeve 7 and thelower part to a ring or plate Sfixed to said sleeve byflscrews, one ofwhich is shown at 9. The cam 6 is arranged and de signedto'impartarcuate sliding movement td-the sinkers whereby the outerextremity of each sinker'is moved radially in and out between theadjacent ri b needles 1 and in a plane substantially at right angles tothe direction of movement of saidneedles. The sinker at the right handside of Figure l is shown projected and that'on the left hand sidewithdrawn. Asshown in Figure 5, the groove in the cam 6 is formed at auniform level for the greater part of its length in order to retain-themajority of the sinkers in the withdrawn position, but the remainingpart of the groove is ofiset at 6*. or formed at a lower level. the cam;is in positionin the machine, the active part (i -there- 'ofis normallylocated in the vicinity oifthe rib stitch cam (not shown) in order topro-- iec-t the corresponding sinkers at this point.

Ethe and toe is to be made the sinker cam is changed in position so asto enable the active part thereof to operate on the opposite side of theneedle circle or at some other suitable point so that the sinkers 2 inthat portion of the needle circle where a slack thread is located duringreciprocating knitting are withdrawn and thus clear said thread. .Thesleeve 7' is therefore held by a device which turns said cam or allowsit to be turned when its position is to be changed. For example, thesaid sleeve may be pinned on or otherwise attached to acentral verticalshaft 10 passed through a bearing (not shown) in the upper part of themachine head and through a boss 11 on a cover 12. This cover is fixedupon the top plate 13 of the machine and serves to protect parts such asthe cylinder driving gears (not shown). A spring ring or band 14 isinserted into a correspondmg recess'ln the sleeve 7 forfrictionalengagement with the interior of the needle cylinder 1. Fixedupon a spring 17, on one end of an arcuate lever l8 fulcru-med centrallyat 19 on the cover 12, as representedin Figure 1'. Normally, i. e.

- during the normal-rotation of the cylinders in the direction ofthearrow a in said figure, the aforesaid stop and arm hold the sinkercam in a definite'position for proj ecting the sinkers as they pass therib stitch cam. When however, reciprocating knitting is to take placethe leverlS is turned in the directionof the arrow '5 to disengage thestop or catch 16 from the arm 15, whereupon the sleeve Thy reason ofthe-frictional engagement-of the spring ring or band 14 with thecylinder 1 is turned by and with said cylinder until such movement isarrest ed by the engagement of the said arm with a stoplQO on the cover12 as represented by dot and dash lines. Movement of the sinker cam inthe opposite direction when the rotation of the cylinders is reversed isprevented by the. engagement of the arm 15 with a catch or stop 21controlled by a spring 22 on the lever 18 which stop is moved into itsactive position (indicated by dot and dash lines) when the said lever isturned as aforesaid. The positionof the sinker cam is thuslchanged andsaid cam is held in its new position while reciprocating knitting takesplace after which the lever 18 is turned back to its original positionthereby diseir gaging the stop or catch 21 from the arm 15 so that thesleeve 7 is again turned by the needle cylinder 1 to carry the sinkercam back to the position previously occupied thereby. This movement islimited by the contact'of the :arm with another stop 23 in the cover12;while thecatch or-stop .16 again holds the arm until its release isbrought about by a further movement of the lever 18; As the arm l5 movesinto one position or the other the Corresponding stop or catch its. 16or 21, yields to allow the arm topassit,

the inner ends of the stops or catches beingbevelled for this purpose.The-movement of the lever 18 iscontrolled by apattern, chain orcontrolling drum (not shown) of themachine through intermediateconnections which conveniently comprise a bell crank lever 24 bifurcatedat one end for engagement with a projection 25 onthe lever 18,

and fulcrumed at 26 ,011 a bracket 27 attached to the top plate13;Theother end of the bell crank lever has connected to it. a link 28which is operated by pattern mechanism of l a known kind. The lever 18is moved to and held in its 'normal position by theaction of saidpattern mechanism and when.

released thereby is actuated by-a spring 29. 1 Oil passages 30'and81,1na1y be drilled in the shaft 1 0 and a deflector -32. attached tothe sleeve 7, the upper edge of which is beveled, for the purpose: ofsupplying 011. be-

tween the said' sleeveand theneedle cylinder1.f 3'.

Instead of moving the sleeve 7. frictionally as just described thevertical shaft may I be positively actuated in some suitablemanner toturn' the sinker cam from one, position to another. i v H To this endthe said sleeve is made'freely rotatable in, i. s. it has no'frictional'engage- 1 ment with the needle cylinder, the spring ring I 14 (Figure 1)being-omitted,fand asshown li-nFigure 6, the shaft 10 may have-a-pini0npinned thereon which meshes with a toothed segment 34 fulcrum'ed .onapin 35 fixed in thetop plate 13,, said segment being formedwith anarm'34 'which is connected to 501' engaged by actuating means. Theoscillation of the segment to impart the required movement to the shaft10 may be eifectedby means similar to those employed'to rock the lever18 described with reference to Figures 7 1 and 4. That is to say, a bellcrank lever similarlto thelever 24! (Figures 1 and 4).may be arranged inengagement-with the'arm 34* and actuated to turn the segment. first 1none direction and then-in the other-by the patternv mechanism aforesaidto effect rotation of the sleeve at the required times.

, VVh en this arrangement is adopted, the cover 12 (Figu res 1 and 4)isdispensed with but, if desired, acover of modified form may .be fittedover the driving gear (which inotherwise formed'for engagement with thebutts or projections of the sinkers and capable of vertical movementwithin the cylinder.

i'Ancxample of such an arrangement is illustra'ted in Figure 7according'to which the;

arcuate sinkers-2 which work .in' a grooved ring 4 as previouslydescribed herein are controlledby a sleeve '7 b carrying a ring 37 andaflanged collar 88 on which another ring 39 is mounted. Theringsare solocated as to forma. groove ,or space 40 between them for the receptionof thesinker butts 5. The sleeve I '2". is. fitted. slidably within asinker guard sleeve 41 fixed in the needle cylinder 1. When the sleeve 7b is moved downwards the lower ends of the sinkersare projected (asshown) and when upward movement of the sleeve is effectedfsaid'ends arewithdrawn. The opposing'faces 37 and 39* of the rings areolppositelybevelled or. inclined to allow for-t arcuate movement of theisinker.butts. The

sleeve 7 is pinned on a shaft 1O slidably mounted inv the upper part ofthe machine head andfitted with a'bifurcatedieye screw 42 for theconnectionv thereto of a'lever43 fulcrumed at one end in a fitment 44-onthe top plate 13 and having 'a link,4:5 connected to its opposite end.Thislink e'xten'ds through the top plate -l3and may be actuated by'thepattern mechanism hereinbeforev referred to,

for imparting vertical movement to the shaft 10? and consequently to thesleeve 7r", at the required times, anddetermining the positions thereof.7

The desired object may be achievedby usingstraight instead of arcuatesinkers such straight'sinkers being carried in a radially .grooved dial,plate or ring in the lower end of the needle cylinder. Thesesinkersshouldbe disposed substantially horizontal and moved in and outbya cam or other appropriate means. 7 1,

A convenient arrangement of this kind is illustrated in Figures .8 and 9according-to which there isfixed inJthe lower endlofthe needle cylinder1, a radiallyigrooved dial :46

equipped with horizontally disposed sinkers 2", the butts 5P'of whichwork in a cam. groove 47 in a disc 48 which is attachedto a sleeve 7 andalso serves to support the sinkers. As

will be seen on reference to Figure 9,;the

cam groove is circular for the most part so as to retain the majorityofthe sinkers in the withdrawn position, but the remaining part isoffset so that the correspondingsinkers are projected thereby. Thisoffset portion is normally located in the vicinity of the rib stitch cam('notshown). a

The sleeve7 is fixed ona shaft 10. and, to

bring. the projection of-the sinkers inthe vicinity of the stitch cam atone time, and at a point remote from'said cam at another time, saidsleeve may be either frictionally actuated like the sleeve 7orpositively actuatedrlike the sleeve 7 b in the manner previouslydescribed herein with reference to Figures 1 and 4, or

igure 6. a i

It will be understood that it is the lower edge-of the sinkers, bits orlike elements which constitutes the holding means for the yarn or Web. Imay, if desired, bevel, incline or otherwise form this edge so that itwill vary in relation to the needles in accordance with the extentof'projection of the extremity. For

instance in the case of the arcuate sinker 52 (Fig. 3-), the outer edgeis made eccentric at *2", it being understood that such formation isapplied only to that part of the sinker which projects between theneedles, then by projecting such sinkers to a greater or less ex- 1 tentaccording to requirements'the active edge thereof will be variedslightly in relation --to theneed'les so that the length of loop will Ibe correspondingly varied. In this manner the quality of the fabric canbe varied.

When such sinkers are used the variable projection maybe obtainedproviding for the adjustment of the actuating cam vertically,.as forinstance','by slight vertical movement of the shaft or in the case ofthe arrangementshown in F igure 7, by limiting the downward movement ofthe shaft 10".

Asregards the arrangement shown in Figure'8, .provrslon may be made forslight vertical movement of the shaft 10 to eitect' adjustment ofthesinkers 2 so as to vary the re lationship :between the lower edgesthereof,

andthe needles lefor varying the'quality 01 the fabric. a What I claimthen is 1. In a circular rib knitting machine, rib and lain needlecylinders coaxially opposed, nee les operable in said cylinders for riband plain knitting, said machine operating with rotary motion and alsowith reciprocating motion during which latter the knittin g yarnslackens; a circular series of web holding ele- ;ments arranged in therib cylinder for pro jection outwards between the rib needles'to holdthe knitted web against the loop drawing actionof said needles, andmeans whereby said'elements can bewithdrawn inwards to suchextent asto'avoid contact with the slack yarn during reciprocatory knittingaction of the machine.

2. In acircular rib knitting machine, rib

and plain needlecylinders co axially opposed,

zneedles operable in said cylinders for rib'and .plain knitting, saidmachine operating with rotary motion and also with reciprocating motionduring which latter the knitting yarn slackens; a circular series of webholding elements respectively furnished with butts and arranged in therib cylinder so that their .outer ends are capable of movement towardsand from the cylinder aXis,-and means operativeupon said butts wherebyfrom an outward projected position wherein the outer ends ofsaidelements hold down the knitted :wob againsttfiie :loop drawing action ofthe v action of the machine.

rib needles, said ends can be withdrawn com- Y pletely to an inwardcontracted position to miss the slack yarns during reciprocatory .3. Inacircular rib knitting machine, rib and plain needle cylindersco-axiallyopposed, needles operable in said cylinders for rib and plain knitting,said machine operating with rotary motion and also with reciprocatingmotion during which latter the knitting yarn slackens, a circular seriesof web holding elements movably arranged in the rib needle cylinder, andcam means normally positioned to project the elementso utwards betweenthe loop forming rib needles so as to hold down the knltted web duringthe loop drawing action, said cam means being movable to anotherposltion durlng reclprocating knitting so that theweb hold ng elementsin thatport1on of the needle circle where the slack yarn is located arewithdrawn to avold" contact with the said yarn.

4. In a circular rib knittin machine, rib and plain needle cylindersco-axially opposed, needles operable in saidcylinders for rib and plainknitting, said machine operating with rotary motion and also withreciprocating motion during which latter the knitting yarn slackens, acircular series of web holding elements respectively furnished withbutts and "arranged in the rib cylinder so that their outer ends arecapable of movement towards and from the cylinder axis, a cam normallypositioned for acting on the said butts so that the elements areprojected outwards between the loop forming rib needles so as to holddown the knitted web against the loop drawing action, said cam beingmovable to another position during reciprocating knitting so that theelements in that portion of the needle yarn slackens, a circular seriesof web holding elements respectively furnished with butts and arrangedin the rib cylinder so as to be individually slidable radially betweenthe rib needles, a cam normally positioned for acting on the said buttsso that the elements are projected outwards between the loop forming ribneedles so as to hold down the knitted web against the loop drawingaction, said cam being movable to another position during reciprocatingknitting so that the elements in that portion of the needle circle wherethe slack yarn is located are withdrawn to avoid contact with said yarn,a rotatable member carrying said-cam and 01') erable to move it from itsnormal to the other position, and vice versa, and means for con trollingthe rotation of said member, for the purpose described. 7

6. In a circular ribknitting machine, rib

and plain needle cylinders, co-axiall'y op-a posed, needles operable insaid cylinders for rib and plainknitting, said machine operating withrotary motionand also with reciprocating motion during which latter theknitthe ends of the elements in that portion of the needle circle wherethe slack yarn is 10- cated are withdrawn to avoid contactwlth saidyarn, and means for controlling the movement of said cam, for thepurpose described.

7. In a circular rib knitting machine, rib

and plain needle cylinders co-axially op-j posed, needles operable insaidcylinders for rib and plain knitting, said machine operating with arotary and also with reciprocating motion during which latter the yarnslackens, a circular series of web holding elements arranged in the ribneedle cylinder so that their outerends can be moved radially in and outbetwen the rib needles, and means for effecting such movement wherebysaid elements can be projected outwards between the loop forming ribneedles to hold down the knitted web against the loop forming action,and withdrawn inwards to such extent as to avoid contact with the slackyarn during reciprocatory action of the machine, each of said elementshaving its operative edge formed so that it will vary in relation to theneedles according to the extent of its proj ection, and said means beingadjustable axially in the rib cylinder to vary theextent of suchprojection, for the purpose described.

8. In a circular rib knitting machine operating with rotary motion andwith reciprocating motion during wh'ich'latterthe knit-V inders for riband plain knitting, a radially their outer ends can be moved in and outbetween the rib needles so that when projected they hold down theknitted web against the loop drawing action of the rib needles, meanswhereby said elements can be withdrawn inwards'to such extent as toavoid contact with the slack yarn during the reciprocatoryactionof themachine, and means exterior of the rib cylinder forcontrolling saidprojecting and withdrawing means.

9; In a circular'rib knitting machine of therotary' and rotaryreciprocatory needle cylinder type having axially opposed rib and plainneedle cylinders with needles operable ine'ach for rib and plainknitting, a radiall grooved bed in thejrib needle cylinder, we holdingelements slidable in said bed, means within the rib cylinder forprojecting said slidable elements between the loop forming rib needlesduring circular knitting to hold down the knitted web and forwithdrawing said elements to such extent as to avoid contact with theslack yarn engendered during the reciprocatory knitting action of the machine, and means operable externally of the cylinder for controllingsaid interior means, all for the purpose set forth.

10. In a circular rib knitting machine of the rotary and'rotaryreciprocatory needle cylinder'typ'e having axially opposed rib and plainneedle cylinders with needles operable in each for rib and plainknitting, a radially grooved-bed in the rib needle cylinder, web

. holding elements slidable in said bed, a cam operative uponsaidelements and normally positioned to project same outwards betweenthe loop forming rib needles so as to hold down the knitted web againstthe loop drawing action during circular knitting, a rotatable sleevemounted centrally within the rib needle cylinder to carry said cam,'andmeans external to the rib cylinder for controlling rotation of thesleeve to another position wherein during the reciprocatory action ofthe machine the cam withdrawsthe elements in that portion of the needlecircle where the slack yarn is located so that they avoid contact withsaid yarn.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

THOMAS SCOTT GRIEVE.

